KCC wakes up to thwart anthrax
Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has banned slaughtering of cows at any place other than its two slaughterhouses at Gallamari and Khalishpur.
KCC Veterinary Surgeon Md Rezaul Karim told this correspondent yesterday the employees of the two slaughterhouses are being given training about infection of cutaneous anthrax.
All the animals including cows must have medical test before being slaughtered. We have asked meat sellers not to bring sick cows to any of the two KCC-run slaughterhouses, the veterinary surgeon said.
According to Khulna district livestock office, there are 4,500 anthrax vaccines in 12 veterinary hospitals of the metropolitan city and nine upazilas of the district. There are a total of 5,71,789 domestic animals in Khulna district. Of them, 3,95,756 are cows and 1,76,033 are goats.
So, 5,67,289 cows and goats of the district would be deprived of getting anthrax vaccine, said district Livestock officer Dr Mohammod Nizamuddin.
We have opened a control room in our Khulna office to know reports on the latest health condition of cows and goats or if there is any case of signs and symptoms of anthrax infection, the livestock officer said, adding that owners of dairy farms and farmers have been advised to consult veterinary surgeons immediately after the cattle fall sick.
A total of 4,400 cattle were vaccinated from July to August 18 this year in the city and district. We have asked for more vaccines, he said.
Khulna city veterinary officer Dr Arun Kanti Mondol and district Livestock officer Dr Mohammod Nizamuddin said they have so far got no case of anthrax-infected cattle in the city and district.
Dumuria upazila livestock officer Dr SM Ayub Ali and Paikgachha upazila livestock officer Dr Md Abdul Quddus said they have so far received no news of anthrax-infected cattle in the upazilas.
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